Starting out: Don’t despise the day of small things

As a newbie to the workforce, your first job can feel a lot like initiation. You’re the new kid on the block, fresh out of school and you have a lot to learn—and prove—to those around you who are more seasoned in their career.

Oh, how I remember that time well. After graduation, I started my marketing career as an intern at a local newspaper. Yes, I said intern. Actually, I was paid through a staffing company that hired talent for this particular newspaper, and was given the title “Marketing Intern.” While not my first choice of titles, I was happy with the idea of working in my field and making decent money to get experience.

During my time there, I was involved in all sorts of projects—some more rewarding than others. I can vividly recall one of my first projects. It involved calling hundreds of people and informing them they had won a stuffed snowbird. I can still hear the reverberating question in my head: I won a what? “A stuffed snowbird,” I’d say, carefully explaining what it looked like, how they had won it and where to go to claim their prize. I rehearsed this script hundreds of times over the course of a week or two. Seriously, to this day, I don’t like anything involving calling people on the phone—and I’m certain this is why! But, I did it with my head held high, and I still laugh about it today.

Later on, I was given another project. But, this time, it was right up my alley. I was given the opportunity to work with the creative marketing team on a diversity calendar. I came up with a cool theme that tied to the initiative and researched quotes that complimented the theme. My ideas were well-received and I really enjoyed working on that project. And, I still love that sort of thing today. Who knows? I may never have had the opportunity to work on the calendar had my attitude been wrong with the snowbird project.

What’s my point? Don’t despise the day of small things. If you work hard and let your talents shine brightly even in the lowliest of tasks, you will be entrusted with greater things—and that’s how your career will take flight!